Le Mesnil Gonfroy   Hambye, Normandy

We fell in love with this house as soon as we saw it. Until recently the house of the village doctor, it oozes character with masses of old beams, tiled floors and a monumental stone fireplace in the drawing room. The gardens are really beautiful and surround the house. The front lawns have magnolia and cherry trees, and those behind are shaded by a cider apple orchard. Tall French windows lead from each ground floor room on to the south-facing terrace – a real suntrap and a lovely place to sit and enjoy the gardens with a glass of local cider or calvados followed by a game of boules.

This stunning ancient honey coloured stone farmhouse is peacefully set in an acre of mature gardens with lawns running down to a magnificent private heated swimming pool. The surrounding countryside is Normandy at its best, apple orchards, spotty Normandy cows and yet all less than 1/2 hour away from sandy beaches that never seem to get crowded.

Each pretty village seems to have its own restaurant, some simple, others superb, all excellent value. If you like locally reared beef or fresh fish and shellfish in all its guises you are in for a real treat.

Nestling below the house is a magnificent 10m x 5m heated salt water swimming pool. The pool is set on the lower lawn, out of sight of the house and very private. The poolside terrace faces south and traps the sun for most of the day; sunloungers and furniture are provided. The lower lawn is fenced and lockable and there is an alarm which can be set if the pool is left unattended. The pool can be easily reached with either a pram or a wheelchair, and is open from May to the end of October. Nearby Hambye (3km) is the morning excursion for croissants and fresh, warm bread. There is also a good small supermarket, and several other shops including a bank. The village has two good bar/restaurants and a weekly pannier market. The renowned "Abbée Hambye" restaurant can be reached on foot along a winding drove from the house.

Ground Floor
Very well equipped kitchen with hob, oven, dishwasher, microwave, fridge freezer, arch to lovely breakfast room with exposed stone walls and farmhouse table. Huge beamed drawing room with enormous stone fireplace (all logs provided). Beamed dining room with beautiful oak table for 14. Hall, shower room with twin beds and en suite bathroom and shower room. All suitable for disabled guests. Laundry with sink, washing machine and tumble dryer. Games room with table tennis. Full, oil-fired central heating throughout. TV, video, garden furniture, gas BBQ.

First Floor
An oak staircase leads from the drawing room below. Double bedroom with king size bed and en-suite shower/WC. There is a second double bedroom and two more bedrooms both have twin beds, bathroom with shower, bath and WC.

A secondary staircase rises from the hall (with its shower room with WC) to a large landing from which leads a huge bedroom with three single beds, (room for extra bed if required) cots and high chairs available.

2010 Prices
	01 Jan	£850			08 Jan	£850			15 Jan	£850
	22 Jan	£850			29 Jan	£850			05 Feb	£850
	12 Feb	£850			19 Feb	£500			26 Feb	£650
	05 Mar	£650			13 Mar	£650			20 Mar	£500
	27 Mar	£525			03 Apr	£1275			10 Apr	£975
	17 Apr	£925			24 Apr	£975			01 May	£1100
	08 May	£1200			15 May	£1300			22 May	£1375
	29 May	£2250			05 Jun	£1550			12 Jun	£1650
	19 Jun	£1750			26 Jun	£1950			03 Jul	£2100
	10 Jul	£2385			17 Jul	£2675			24 Jul	£2675
	31 Jul	£2675			07 Aug	£2675			14 Aug	£2675
	21 Aug	£2675			28 Aug	£1750			04 Sep	£575
	11 Sep	£1375			18 Sep	£625			25 Sep	£975
	02 Oct	£900			09 Oct	£900			16 Oct	£900
	23 Oct	£1200			30 Oct	£895			06 Nov	£895
	13 Nov	£895			20 Nov	£895			27 Nov	£895
	04 Dec	£895			11 Dec	£895			18 Dec	£1900
	25 Dec	£1900

Click here for 2011 Prices

Prices shown for the period 28th April to 27th October include the private use of the 10m x 5m heated swimming pool.
Prices include all heating, hot water, electricity and logs. Discounts available for parties of 4 or less and also for short breaks. Changeover day is Saturday. Duvets and pillows are provided. Bed linen and towels are available for hire. Non-smokers preferred.